Playoff Notebook: Chiefs vs. Bengals and Lions

How the Bengals and Lions games can affect the Chiefs, plus a look at former Chiefs in this year's playoff field

There are two franchises whose fans have waited longer for a playoff victory than the Kansas City Chiefs, and both of those teams play in Wild Card games this weekend.

For Chiefs fans, it’s now been 18 years since the franchise last tasted a playoff victory. Kansas City won two playoff games in the 1993 playoffs vs. Pittsburgh and at Houston before falling in the AFC Championship Game at Buffalo.

Kansas City has lost seven consecutive playoff games since defeating Houston at the Astrodome on January 16, 1994. It’s a drought that could become the NFL’s longest if Cincinnati and Detroit emerge victorious on Saturday.

For the Bengals, 21 years have passed since the franchise last won a playoff game. It’s currently the NFL’s longest active streak without a playoff win.

Cincinnati’s last playoff victory came in a 44-14 Wild Card win over Houston on January 6, 1991. The Bengals have gone 0-3 in playoff games since. Cincinnati matches up against Houston again this weekend, although it’s against a different Houston franchise than the last postseason meeting.

Detroit, who is making its first playoff appearance since 1999, currently owns the NFL’s second-longest streak without a playoff win at 20 years. They’ll try to kick the schnide Saturday in New Orleans.

The Lions last playoff victory came in a Divisional game against Cowboys on January 5, 1992. Quarterback Erik Kramer threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns in Detroit’s 38-6 win, but the Lions have gone 0-6 in the playoffs since defeating the Cowboys at the Pontiac Silverdome.

Kansas City has been much more successful over the last two decades compared to Cincinnati and Detroit, but the playoff record won’t show it if the Bengals and Lions both win this weekend.

Here’s a look at each team’s resume since its last playoff victory.

Cincinnati Bengals (21 Years without a playoff win)

Regular Season Record (1991-2011): 124-211-1 (.371)

Playoff Appearances: 3

Division Titles: 2

Winning Seasons: 3

Detroit Lions (20 years without a playoff win)

Regular Season Record (1992-2011): 119-201 (.372)

Playoff Appearances: 6

Division Titles: 1

Winning Seasons: 5

Kansas City Chiefs (18 Years without a playoff win)

Regular Season Record (1994-2011): 147-141 (.510)

Playoff Appearances: 6

Division Titles: 4

Winning Seasons: 9

Former Chiefs in the Playoffs

There are 15 former Chiefs on playoff rosters this season. Here’s a look at what each player accomplished for his team during the 2011 regular season.

Jed Collins played in all 16 games and made 11 starts at fullback for the Saints this season. He caught 11 passes for 50 yards with two touchdowns and added another pair of scores on goal line carries. Collins bounced around the NFL for three years before making his NFL debut in the Saints season opener. He was part of the Chiefs preseason roster in 2009.

Mike Cox played in nine games and made five starts at fullback for the Falcons this season. Cox played in 39 games (17 starts) for the Chiefs from 2008-10 after signing with the team as an undrafted rookie. He attended training camp with Kansas City this summer, but was released prior to the start of the regular season.

Tom Crabtree caught six passes for 38 yards and a touchdown as a reserve tight end for the Packers this season. Crabtree is a former Chiefs undrafted free agent and practice squad member. He was released from Kansas City’s practice squad prior to joining Green Bay in 2009.

Brian De La Puente played in all 16 games and made 12 starts at center for the Saints this season. Like Collins, De La Puente bounced around the NFL for three years before making his NFL debut with the Saints on Opening Day. He was part of the Chiefs first series of cuts during the 2009 training camp.

Tony Gonzalez hauled in 80 catches for 875 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 starts for the Falcons this season. A first-round pick of the Chiefs in 1997, Gonzalez re-wrote the team’s record book while earning 10 Pro Bowl invites and nine All-Pro selections. Gonzalez was traded to the Falcons in 2009 for a second-round draft pick.

Turk McBride tallied four tackles and 2.0 sacks for the Saints in eight games (two starts) this season. A former second-round pick of the Chiefs, McBride played in 25 games (10 starts) for Kansas City from 2007-08. He was released by the Chiefs early in the 2009 season.

Bernard Pollard played in all 16 games and made 13 starts at safety for the Ravens this season, tallying 75 tackles, 2.0 sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles. A former second-round draft pick of the Chiefs, Pollard played in 48 games with Kansas City from 2006-08. He was released following training camp in 2009.

Wade Smith started all 16 games at left guard for the Texans after playing with the Chiefs from 2008-09. He signed with Houston as an unrestricted free agent following the 2009 season.

Will Svitek started the final 10 games of the season at left tackle for Atlanta. He was originally a sixth-round draft pick of the Chiefs and played in 16 games (four starts) with the team from 2005-07. Svitek was released by the Chiefs following training camp in 2008.

Herb Taylor was a late addition to the Packers roster after rookie Derek Sherrod was placed on injured reserve following Green Bay’s game in Kansas City. Taylor played in 18 games with the Chiefs from 2007-08 after joining the team as a sixth-round draft pick. He was released following training camp in 2009.

Lawrence Tynes connected on 19 of 24 field goal attempts for the Giants this season and booted through all 43 of his extra point attempts. Tynes kicked three seasons for the Chiefs (2004-06) before he was traded to the Giants for seventh-round pick prior to the 2007 season.

Erik Walden started 15 games at outside linebacker for Green Bay this season, recording 59 tackles and 3.0 sacks. Walden played in nine games on special teams with the Chiefs in 2008 before he was waived later that year.

Brain Waters started all 16 games at right guard for the Patriots this season. Waters was a five-time Pro Bowler and started 149 games for the Chiefs from 2000-10. He was released by Kansas City prior to the start of training camp in 2011.

Steve Weatherford posted a 39.2 net punting average in 16 games with the Giants this season. He punted in two games for the Chiefs during the 2008 season when Dustin Colquitt was sidelined with a groin injury.

Kris Wilson played in 15 games as a reserve tight end for the Ravens, but did not record any regular season statistics. He’s a former second-round pick of the Chiefs and played in 49 games for Kansas City from 2004-07. Wilson left the team in 2008, signing with the Eagles as an unrestricted free agent.